Algerian women are pioneers in ecological agriculture June 23, 2024

Ibtissem Mahtout with a handful of freshly picked strawberries (-)

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Algerian women are pioneers in ecological agriculture

Ibtissem Mahtout and Amira Messous pick fresh strawberries and tomatoes on the small ecological farm where the two women are working near Algiers, a pioneering initiative in Algeria's male-dominated agricultural sector.

After graduating from university four years ago, they left the capital and started working on a small plot of land in Douaouda, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) to the west.

"As soon as I'm in the fields, I'm happy," said Messous, 28, holding a bundle of fresh beets.

"From morning to night, we're here. For me, it's the most beautiful job in the world."

The plant ecology and biodiversity graduates now manage one of the country's rare ecological plots, where produce is grown in harmony with the wider ecosystem and without the use of pesticides.

Messous said that, at first, it was a challenge "having to integrate" into a sector in which the majority of people working on the land are men.

According to local media, last October only four percent of the workers registered with the Chamber of Agriculture in Tipaza province, where his land is located, were women.

But some "farmers are happy to see educated women working on the land," said Messous.

"They take the time to explain things to us, and that makes their work more valuable."

His 29-year-old partner, Mahtout, recalls that they launched the project with just 60,000 Algerian dinars (about US$445) - "enough to buy basic tools" - after renting the piece of land.

- Selling on Instagram - you

With the help of Torba, an association that promotes ecological agriculture in Algeria, they "learned how to plant, how to sow, how to work the soil".

Today, their 1,300 square meter farm employs even one full-time male worker - and up to eight part-time workers at harvest time.

When they're not in the field, the two women make full use of social media to sell their products.

On Instagram, they advertise their baskets of seasonal fruit and vegetables every week and take orders for produce via WhatsApp.

On Friday, the first day of the Algerian weekend, customers pick up their orders at a larger farm in nearby Zeralda, where other small farmers also sell produce, including flowers.

"We want to eat something healthy once in a while," said Fatma Zohra, a 72-year-old loyal customer and subscriber to the small farm's social media account.

"I thought these girls were very nice, and when I found out that they sell to subscribers, I wanted to encourage them."

Each week, the pair sell between 10 and 30 baskets of seasonal fruit and vegetables.

The farm in Zeralda, where they sell their products, is also educational and offers themed programs for children.

In addition to the Friday farmers' market, it is also a meeting place for local families and offers cooking classes, entertainment, and cultural events.

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